Award-winning Pub Company to open in Centre of Cardiff

Knife & Fork Food to open fifth location as they announce acquisition ofTwenty Nine Park Place

Award winning pub group Knife & Fork Food have announced plans to open their fifth venue, Twenty Nine Park Place, this July.

The pub, which is Knife & Fork Food’s most ambitious venue yet, follows on from the 2014 opening of The Discovery in Lakeside, and will join other venues in the group’s portfolio which incorporates The Conway in Pontcanna, The Pilot in Penarth and The Old Swan Inn in Llantwit Major.

Twenty Nine Park Place, which sits adjacent to the steps of the National Museum Wales, is currently undergoing an extensive £200,000 refurbishment, which will completely overhaul the interiors of the grand townhouse to bring it in line with the aesthetic of a refined, traditional pub for today, complete with bar area, open kitchen, restaurant and a small private dining room on the first floor.

The venue will be a visual step away from the much-loved interiors of the group’s more suburban and rural venues, however, hallmarks will remain that fans of the local pubs will know and appreciate.

The acquisition of Twenty Nine Park Place is the next step in an expansion strategy for the regional pub group that was established in 1999 with Woods Brasserie and has since gone on to experience great success, turning over £3.7 million in 2017, generating and maintaining strong local followings and being recognised by the acclaimed Michelin Pub Guide.

The move into Cardiff city centre has been largely self-funded by Knife & Fork Food, and is the result of several years of careful consideration regarding their next move. Speaking about the new venture, Sean Murphy, one of three partners who own the group, said: “Until now we’ve always considered ourselves to be a company that specialises in community pubs and to date we have been very successful at that, however, when we saw Twenty Nine Park Place we simply couldn’t resist such a magnificent opportunity”

“The venue is stunning and our move into town heralds the beginning of a whole new era for us. Our current customers will certainly feel at home when we open as it will very much have the Knife & Fork Food stamp on it, however, we’ve unquestionably scaled it up a notch, now that we’re in the city centre.

“We’re looking forward to opening our doors in July, but for now we’re very busy making it the very best city pub with food it can possibly be. And, in association with Wonder Company who have put together a contemporary yet comfortable design, it promises to be worth a visit! ”

The kitchen at Twenty Nine Park Place will be under the control of Head Chef Steffan Bonnifay, who is currently Head Chef at The Discovery in Lakeside. From the new ground floor open kitchen, Steffan and his team will be serving up a constantly evolving menu, loaded with fresh local produce. And fans of the group’s other venues will also be pleased to discover signature classic dishes, including the best-selling fish and chips and traditional pies.

And the drinks offering won’t disappoint. Under the stewardship of Managing Director, Sean Murphy, who also owns the Vale of Glamorgan Brewery, the bar will boast an impressive array of ales to entice and excite even the most jaded of ale aficionados.

Speaking about the plans for the bar, Sean says: “We’ll have a range of 14 keg and cask craft ales from Wales and all over the world. It’s something I’m really looking forward to curating.”

“Gin and rum will also be a big focus for us and like all of our other venues there will also be a whiskey corner.”

The extensive renovation schedule is currently underway and Twenty Nine Park Place is scheduled to open in late July.

Twenty Nine Park Place, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3BA.

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The Pilot, Penarth

The Pilot, 67 Queen's Road, Penarth, CF64 1DJ

Open all day

The Pilot is a Victorian pub situated on the North side of Penarth, overlooking Cardiff Bay and the City. The pub is marked on the 1880 map of the area, whilst most of the surrounding area was being developed. The original building is the one adjacent to the steep lane, it has since been expanded into an adjoining house. The pub features a colourful pub sign with a picture of a rugged-looking seaman at the wheel of his boat in stormy seas.

Below the sign, on the corner, is the pub entrance, this leads to an entrance hall with the bar on the right, towards the front and the lounge on the left at the rear. The large bar is bright and features painted wood panelling throughout. An eclectic mix of seating is available throughout the pub, from couches to unusual chairs.

 An old photo of one of the pub regulars can be seen in the pub, and the doorway was originally in the corner of the building. The front room is the perfect place to experience the rays of the afternoon sun before it sets below the hill on which Penarth is situated upon. There are also tables outside the pub for smokers or those who prefer outdoor eating and drinking.

There are four gleaming chrome handpumps on the bar serving real ales, with most of the beers coming from Brain's, although with guests ales from breweries such as Otley, Arbor or Dorset breweries. A more unusual beer is the Milk Stout from the Bristol Beer Factory which will be on this weekend and beers from Brains Craft Brewery are also on sale when available. Bottled Budvar from the Czech Republic is also available along with Brains SA Gold and Dark in bottles, together with an extensive wine list. The Pilot is owned by Wales' largest real ale brewer, SA Brain, but is leased to award-winning pub group Knife & Fork Food Limited who also run the New Conway in Pontcanna and the Old Swan in Llantwit Major.

The rear room features a wood-burning stove and an impressive view across Cardiff Bay towards the City Centre. There is a large-projection screen television used for major sporting events such as the Six Nations. Sunday nights are quiz nights in the Pilot.

Food is served all day from extensive chalkboard menu with dishes such as orange and fennel glazed pork with mustard mash together with more traditional pub fayre such as fish and chips or even haggis, neeps and tatties, a favourite of the Scottish-born pub chef.
Free WiFi.

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Penarth pub reopens as The New Pilot

The traditional Penarth watering hole that was the Pilot has been stylishly reincarnated by South Wales food company Knife & Fork Food Ltd.


The Brains–owned Penarth pub, The Pilot reopened this Saturday (1st September) as The New Pilot, the latest venture from South Wales based food company Knife & Fork Food Ltd.

An extensive renovation project has seen the venue undergo a similar transformation to that of The New Conway. The Pontcanna pub, an entrant in the Michelin Good Food Guide 2013, has become a huge success story for the Knife & Fork brand, since its launch in 2008. Have previously covered the New Conway here.

"We have been very much inspired by the success of The Conway", said Sean Murphy, Managing Director of Knife & Fork Food, "The new Pilot will have the same cosy, family friendly feel as The Conway, complete with log burner, bookcases and snug sofas."

"We think Penarth will be a perfect fit for our brand – the wonderful community feel is something that is hugely attractive to us. I’m really looking forward to establishing our position as a neighbourhood hub that is very much at the heart of the community, much like The Conway has become in Pontcanna."

Martin White, previously Sous Chef at The Conway has been appointed as Head Chef and Executive Chef of the Knife & Fork group, Stefan Nilsson, will be chalking up locally grown, seasonal produce, on the continually evolving blackboard menu.

Foodies can expect an eclectic and hearty selection of dishes that will have taste buds tingling in anticipation. Starters include rabbit cromesco with pickled wild mushroom and butternut squash puree, as well as courgette and feta fritters with raisin and caper dressing.

Mains are equally enticing with Brains Dark braised ox cheeks, celeriac mash and braising liquor, not to mention The Pilot’s fish pie and Chef Martin’s haggis, neeps and tatties being particular highlights.

Desserts don’t disappoint either, with the Napolitana – a combination of chocolate ganache, vanilla parfait and strawberry espuma being a strong contender for most tantalising sweet.

Quiz fans will also be pleased to know that weekly quiz nights will be on the social menu, as well as culinary themed evenings, which have garnered quite a following since their inception at The Conway earlier this year.

The New Pilot
67 Queen's Road
Penarth
CF64 1DJ